Review Of Tunnel Toll After Trial Period

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30452, 28 May 1964, Page 3

Review Of Tunnel Toll After Trial Period

It had always been the authority’s intention to reconsider toll charges, and if need be revise them in the light of experience after a period of operation, the chairman (Mr R. A. Witbrock) told the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority yesterday.

The authority would welcome any submissions so that when a review was made as much information as possible would be available, he said.

Although there were onlyb March and April figures to ■ compare, some advances were i being made, Mr Witbrock ] said. The tonnage of goods in- ] creased from 3161 in March j to 4624, an increase of 46.2 per cent. ; “We have reason to think ; that there will be a further increase for May when the figures are available,” he said. Tolls for April averaged £315 18s 8d a day, which not only met operating costs, but supplied something towards interest charges. | So far this month, the average number of vehicles had increased from 2223 to 2488, but the authority still had to experience the effects of wet weather; Indications were that this reduced traffic considerably. The average daily vehicle tolls had increased from £2Bl • 5s to £316 15s 6d for the first 25 days of May. ' “More important is an in- ’ crease from 124 to 142 in the average daily number of commercial vehicles using the tunnel this month,” Mr Witbrock continued. “The vehicle tolls for the first 25 days of May compared with the first 25 days of April were £7922, against £7162. These figures do not include goods, tolls, which are also expected to increase for May. “The total revenue from the opening to the end of May should exceed estimated operating costs and contribute about £lO,OOO towards interest and sinking fund.” Mr Witbrock reiterated that the authority could only judge the usefulness of the tunnel to industry and commerce generally from infor-. mation it could gain from operation and observation. He said there had already

been some informal discussions to see that full use was made of tie tunnel. Thej had covered the cartage oi bananas, wool, gypsum and logs from the Eyrewell State forest. “We are only suffering growing pains,” Mr F. W. Freeman commented.